The Zen of Eating [Paperback]

R. Kabatznick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

When it comes to weight loss, the emphasis today is shifting away from fad diets and compulsive workouts toward sane, sensible techniques that incorporate both the mind and the body. This is the first book to apply the 2,500-year-old principles of Zen Buddhism to the modern struggle with the vicious cycle of dieting, losing, and regaining weight. From a Buddhist perspective, overeating is a disorder of desire. This book will teach readers how to find freedom from eating problems and the tyranny of desire that triggers them. Filled with concrete, practical exercises and the wisdom of the ages, The Zen of Eating provides, at last, an alternative to ineffective diet programs, products, and pills.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade; 1st edition (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399523820
• ISBN-13: 978-0399523823
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #68,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant insight into the heart of eating disorders!, July 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Zen of Eating (Paperback)

Finally a book that makes sense of the compulsion to overeat! In my struggles with my eating disorder, I've read more than three dozen books about the process. While I've gained a lot of help from the writing of Geneen Roth, Judi Hollis, Jane R. Hirschmann, and Carol H. Munter, The Zen of Eating is the absolute best book I've ever read about eating disorders. The Zen of Eating nudges us to look at how we live, not just how we eat. It explains the necessity of treating ourselves with loving kindness as it shows how overeating is not a disorder of will, but a disorder of desire. After I read this book, both my life and my eating suddenly made a lot more sense. This book has indeed changed my life. Although this wonderful book uses Buddha's Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path to show readers how to free themselves from compulsive eating, the book can be appreciated by readers of all faiths (or no faith at all). The author's previous personal experience a! ! s a psychologist with the Weight Watchers program and her work in soup kitchens give her important 'street level" insight into the problems of American overeaters. The book itself is gentle, kind, and affirming. I've read it twice. After each reading,I feel myself glowing, inspired, and in love with the world. The Zen of Eating is written with such compassion, love, and good common sense, I bet even non-dieters will savor it. I plan to read it at least once a year for the rest of my life.

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Introduction and Explanation of Zen Available, December 27, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Zen of Eating (Paperback)

The best introduction to Zen that I've ever read. Many introductory books on Zen lack a practical explaination of Zen's more esoteric concepts, such as 'emptyness' and 'suffering', and fail to apply these concepts to the ups and downs of everyday life. This book goes beyond the concepts of Zen to make Four Noble Truths accesible through simple explanations. Additionaly, the author makes these Truths come alive by applying them to the very real problem of being fixated on food. However, even if you do not have a problem with food, by seeing the Truths applied in the real world you will imediately see the power that they offer to anyone who is struggling with a problem.

The book is organized around the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Each recieves its own chapter containing an explaination and several examples of how individuals applied the concepts discussed to their fixation on food.

This book is for anyone searching for an accessible introduction to Zen or for learning how to apply the basic concepts of Zen to their everyday life.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking and very helpful, July 3, 2003

By 

MotherLodeBeth "MotherLodeBeth" (Sierras of California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Zen of Eating (Paperback)

It has been a long time since I have savored a book as much as I have been this one. I hope I do not repeat what other positive reviews have said, and if I do, I apologize.

I liked the combination of using real life examples rather than antidotes for showing how people behave and how they can change for the positive, and let go of negative desires. I say negative because as the author wisely notes on page 58 "Letting go doesn't mean annihilating, rejecting feelings, or pretending that you don't have strong feelings". Or on page 62 "Letting go doesn't mean any of these desires disappear. It means that they no longer have control over you". The author notes that we can still like a certain ice cream or treat and enjoy it, but that the treat doesn't have to become an obsession. But more a take it or leave it way of eating. And that once we let go of the habitual desire that food even begins to taste better.

My husband and I grew up in the 40-50's and he remarked that growing up he often was hungry which is why he probably eats "stuff" because he wants to feel full and not wanting. In the late 40's when I was a toddler a sibling often stole food so we could eat. So I to grew up wondering if I would ever not have to worry about food. It has only been since I have been serious about finding out how to let go of the fear-desire issue that my weight started to drop, and I became healthier.

Its also interesting how the author explains how often people drink, smoke, eat wrong because of some issue of fear, be it speaking up when someone says something bad, or when we are faced with a challenge we are afraid of, or because we are afraid of the unknown, like being rejected.

This is a thoughtful and helpful book and one I am so pleased I bought.